Plastic foam housing with lock-on cover sleeve



Dec. w, 1968 H. L. LEVI www@ PLASTIC FOAM HOUSING WITH LOCK-ON COVER SLEEVE Filed Oct. 4, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Hams ,L ew

H. L. LEV: 3,4%,648

PLASTIC FOAM HOUSING WITH LOCK-ON COVER SLEEVE Filed oct. 4.' 196e 2 sheets-sneer z United States Patent O 3,416,648 PLASTIC FOAM HOUSING WITH LOCK-ON COVER SLEEVE .Hans L. Levi, 888 8th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10019 Filed Oct. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 584,233 4 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A two-part package having an inner part of Styrofoam plastic forming a housing for supporting the contents in a xed position and an outer wrap around cardboard carton open at both ends, with means for preventing relative movement between the inner 'housing and outer carton. The package is open at both ends. A handle is provided on the carton.

This invention relates generally to packaging of fragile items in foamed plastic enclosures and an outer protective and decorative sleeve for such enclosures.

Heretofore, a variety of items, especially of a fragile nature, has been packaged in containers made of expanded or foamed plastics, such as Styrofoam, either by shipping the foamed plastic enclosures without further protection, or by placing themin cardboard boxes or cartons having closed ends formed by overlapping glued flaps. Such cartons required considerable amounts of material and costly labor in closing them. In order to open the cartons, it was necessary to tear open the aps at the ends thereof. Furthermore, once opened, the package had to be re-glued for 'further use.

The general object of the present invention is to improve packaging in foamed plastics and to reduce the cost thereof. More particular objects 'are to eliminate the necessity for closing tihe ends of the outer box or carton, therefore reducing the material cost, to save time and labor in assembling the package, to indicate tampering with the contents, and to provide a better and more attractive package with improved eye and sales appeal. A further object is to provide a package which is readily disassembled by the purchaser and which may be reused by the purchaser if desired. This reuse may be for a part or all of the package.

Broadly the `invention comphises a two-part package, namely, an inner sectional foam plastic rigid light-weight housing for supporting the contents in a fixed position, and an outer wraparound cardboard carton open at both ends, with means for preventing relative movement between the inner housing and `outer carton.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which. the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective View of a package for a pair of wine bottles, embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective ydisassembled view off the blank from which t-he Iouter lcarton is made and of the sections of the inner housing, the bottles being shown in dash lines.

FIG. 3 is a top disassembled perspective view of the outer carton and inner housing, covering the bottles, preparatory to insertion into the outer carton in `assembling.

-FIG 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4 4 of FIG. 3, the parts being shown assembled.

F'IG. 5 is a top perspective detail view showing the interlock being broken.

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3,416,648 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 ICC FIG. 6 is a top perspective detail view showing the handle in operative position.

IReferring now to the various views of the drawings wherein the same reference numerals indicate the same part throughout the views, in FIG. 1 a package for a pair of wine bottles made in accordance with the invention is illustrated and designated generally at 10. The package 10 comprises a rectangular inner sectional bed or housing 12 and a rectangular outer carton 14 of the wrap-around type. The inner bed or housing 12 is formed of plastic foam such as Styrofoam, and the outer carton is formed of cardboard or the like.

The outer carton 14 is lformed from `a blank 16 of cardboard as shown in FIG. 2. The blank is divided by crease lines 18 into end panels 20 and 22 and intermediate panels 24, 26 `and 28.

The panel 22 is formed with a semi-circular notch 30 at its juncture with panel 20, midway the ends thereof, and with a circular opening 32 inwardly of the notch 30. A pair of slanting spaced perforated lines 34, 34 extend from the opening 32 to a point closely spaced from the juncture of panel 22 with panel 24. The perforated lines 34, 34 continue into cut lines 36, 36 formed in the panel 22, said cut lines 36, 36 continuing into the adjacent port-ion of panel 24. The material of panel 22 is formed with a crease line 38 across the wide ends of the perforated l-ines 34, 34; with a crease line 40 between the cut lines 36 and 36 at the juncture between the panels 22 -and 24; and with a perforated line 42 between the ends of the cut lines 36 and 36 in panel 24. The material of the panel 22 between t-he perforated lines 34, 34 and cut lines 36, 36 constitutes a ilap 43 extending into the circular opening 32, forming a handle 44.

Panel 28 is formed with a pair of spaced slanting cut lines 48, 48 from the outer edge 50 of the panel, the inner ends thereof being joined by a crease line 52 forming a ap 54. rlhe ap is `formed with a hand hole 56, extending from its crease line 52 outwardly thereof.

Panel 2) is also formed with a pair of slanting spaced cut lines 58, 58 extending outwardly from its juncture with panel 22. The material of the panel 20 is also formed `with a cut line 60 joining the inner ends of the cut lines 58, 58. The material of the panel is also formed with a channel-shaped cut line 62 outwardly of the cut line 60 and inwardly of the cut lines S8, 58. Crease lines 68, 68 extend between the outer ends of the slanting cut lines 58, 58 and the side legs 64, 64 of the channel-shaped cut line 62. The slanting cut lines 58, 58, crease lines 68, 68, cut line 60 and chanel line 62 dene a movable flap `66.

In assembling the carton 14, as best seen in FIG. 3, the panels are folded along the crease lines, the panels 22 and 26 constituting the top and 4bottom wall 70 and 72, respectively. The panel 24 constitutes one side wall 74 and the other end panels 26 and 28 are overlapped and constitute the other side wall 76. One side surface of panel 28 is coated with adhesive 77, or the opposite side of panel 20 is coated with adhesive, so that the overlapped surfaces adhere to each other. The connected wide end of the flap 43 is flush with the adjacent portions of top wall 70 and adjacent side wall 74 as seen in FIG. 3.

The sectional lbed or housing 12 is composed of two rectangular shaped lsections S0 and 82. Each section includes a shallow pan-shaped body 84 with a flat oor or base 86, side walls 88, 88 and end walls 90, 90. At the juncture of the oor or base 86 and each side wall 88, 88, midway the ends of the walls, a notch 91 is formed, intersecting both the iioor and the side walls. Each notch is rectangular in shape in plan providing a shoulder 92 along the floor or base 86 and with a similar shoulder 94 along the adjacent side wall 88.

At each end of the floor or base 86, adjacent each end wall 90, on the inside of the body, there is a cradle structure 96. Each cradle structure includes a rectangular shaped bIock 98 of the same material as the body of the section, extending across the `body in the space between the side walls. The blocks 98 are moulded to the Ibody of the section. Each block is formed with a shallow wide semi-circular recess 100, opening outwardly, and with a narrower shallow recess 102, opening outwardly, closely spaced from recess 100. The recesses define a shoulder 104 therebetween. The narrow recess 102 and adjacent end of the adjacent side wall 88 define a shoulder 108. The recesses in the bocks are so arranged that the wide recess 100 in one block is opposite to the narrow recess 102 in the opposite block, as best seen in FIG. 2. Midway between the ends of the fioor 86 and side walls 88, 88 there are formed opposed shoulders 112, 112, at the juncture of the floor with the side walls on the inside of the body of the section. It is understood that this inner structure of the package refers only to the packaging of bottles, used as an example, but will vary with the contents of the package.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, when assembling the package 10, one of the housing sections, for example, section 82, is placed on a horizontal supporting surface with its body opening upwardly as seen in FIG. 2. A pair of wine bottfes 114, 114 is placed inside the section 82, with the neck portion 116 of the bottle placed in the narrow recess 102 in the cradle 96 at one end thereof, the left hand end, for example, as seen in FIG. 2, and with the wide end portion 119 of the bottle in the wide recess 100 in the opposite end of the body of the section, at one side, the right hand side. The neck portion 116 of the other bottle is placed in the wide recess 100 in the left hand end of the body of the section as `viewed in FIG. 2. The recesses in the blocks are so dimensioned that the recesses of one section receive only one half of the area of the neck port-ion and closed end portion of the conventional bottle, the other half protruding outwardly of the section, and being covered by the other section of the housing. By reason of this arrangement of recesses in the cradle, the narrow neck portion of one `bott'e is juxtaposed to the wide bottom end of the other lbottle thereby saving space. When the bottles are thus arranged and positioned, the other section of the housing section 82 is inverted and placed over section 80 with the edges of its walls seated on the top edges of the walls of section 80 as best seen in FIG. 3. The section 82 thus covers the area of the bottle protruding outwardly of section 80. If other items are packaged, different arrangements of support will be provided for, of course.

The housing 12 with its contents is now ready to be inserted into the carton 14 through one end thereof, the right hand end, for example, in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3. The dimensions of the carton and housing are substantially the same `so that when housing 12 is completely inserted as best seen in FIG. 1, the notch 91 on one side thereof is registered with the -inner connected end of ap 43. The inner end of the ap is then collapsed by the user either by pressing his finger inwardly against the material of the ap between the lines 38, 40 and 42, or by using automatic equipment, as best seen in FIG. 4, whereupon the material collapses and becomes pressed against the shoulders 92 and 94 of the notch 91 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4. The two parts of the package 10 are thus interlocked preventing the housing 12 from being slid relative to the carton 14. The engagement of the ends of the 'bottles with the end walls of the sections or interlocking edges of the sections prevent relative movement of the sections. The housing 12 and carton 14 are now in fixed relative positions ready for shipment and storage.

When packages are stacked for shipment, the flaps 54 and 66 are in overlapped relation, with the flap 66 collapsed and fiush with the material of the inner ply of side wall 76 and with the flap 54 `flush with the material of the outer ply of said siide wall. The overlapping aps are adapted for forming a handle and by inserting the thumb of the hand of the user through the finger hole 30 and pulling outwardly, the flap 54 and attached flap 66 will be moved to a position perpendicular to the plane of the wall 76, thereby opening hand hole 56, and can now serve as a handle for manually carrying the package and contents asbest seen in FIG. 6.

In use, in order to open the package 10, the handle portion 44 of the flap 43 is grasped by the fingers of the hand of the user and the iiap 43 torn away along the perforated lines 34, 34 from the material of wall 70 as best seen in FIG. 5. The interlock between the inner housing 12 and ca-rton 14 is broken and the housing 12 with contents may be pushed outwardly thereof through one of the open ends thereof. When the housing 12 is removed from the outer carton 14, the top section thereof may be readily lifted off the bottom section 82 thereby exposing the contents. The ap 43 may be torn off completely along the perforated'line 42, and the cart0n can be re-used for enclosing the inner housing and carrying it about.

What is claimed is:

1. A package of the kind described comprising an outer rectangular sleeve-shaped cardboard carton, the ends of the carton being open, an inner rectangular Styrofoam sectional housing slidably mounted in the outer carton, enclosing the contents of the package, interlocking means for preventing movement of the housing relative to the carton, said latter means including a notch in at least one of the section of the housing, midway its ends, at the juncture between the top wall and an adjacent side wall of the section, said notch forming a shoulder in the side wall and a shoulder in the top wall, the top wall of the carton having a circular opening midway its ends, a pair of closely spaced perforated lines extending from the opening to a point closely spaced from the juncture of said top wall with an adjacent side wall, said top wall being formed with spaced cut lines forming continuations of said perforated lines extending from the ends of said perforated lines to the juncture of the top wall with the adjacent side wall and continuing through the adjacent portion of said side wall, said perforated and cut lines defining a flap, said .flap having a crease line extending across the ends of the perforated lines and having a crease line at the juncture between the top wall and adjacent side wall and having a perforated line extending across the space between the ends of the cut lines, the material of the flap between said cross lines normally extending over the notch in the section of the housing whereby upon pressure being exerted thereupon, said material will collapse engaging the shoulders on the top and side walls of the section of the housing to prevent sliding movement of the housing sections relative to the outer carton, the shape of the contents or interlocking edges preventing relative movement of the sections of the housing.

2. A package of the kind described as defined in claim 1 wherein the `fiap is adapted to be torn along the perforated lines and cut lines thereby pulling the material of the fiap away from the shoulders on the section of the housing whereby the interlock between the housing and carton is broken.

3. A package of the kind described as defined in claim 2 wherein the fiap extends into the circular opening in the top wall, the extending portion of the liap -serving as a handle for manipulating the flap in tearing it ofr the top wall.

4. A package of the kind described comprising an outer rectangular `sleeve shaped cardboard carton, the ends of the carton being open, an inne-r rectangular Styrofoam sectional housing slidably mounted in the outer carton, enclosing the contents of the package, interlocking means for preventing movement of the housing relative to the carton, said outer carton being of the wraparound type with a top wall, a bottom wall, side wall of a single ply of material, and an opposed side Wall of double ply of material, the housing including two sections, each section having a shallow pan shaped body with side walls and end walls, the sections being disposed in opposed -relation with the side and end walls thereof in abutting relation, the plies of the double-ply side of the carton being formed with slanting cut lines extending from the top wall inwardly of said wall, said plies being formed with crease lines joining the inner ends of the cut lines, said cut lines and crease lines dening aps, the flaps having a hand hole therein, ysaid aps being attached to each other by adhesive whereby upon pulling of the flaps outwardly they are positioned perpendicularly to the plane of the side wall thereby serving as a handle for transporting the package.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/ 1917 Walter 229-23 4/1939 Benoit 229-10 X 7/ 1943 Kretchrner 229-52 X 11/1953 Aquino et al 229-52 X 3/1960 Chirchiglia 206-56 8/ 1962 Starzec 206-46` 7/1963 Redpath et al 229-52 8/1966 Wood 229-14 FOREIGN PATENTS 2/1962 France.

l5 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

